2017 Mid-season review: Alejandro Fernandez

POSITIVES: Racing in GRC Lites for the fourth consecutive year, Fernandez was responsible for getting both Burt Jenner and Gustavo Yacaman up to speed in their first race experiences in a rallycross car. But the three-time Lites Fan Favorite Driver isn’t just out there making laps: in fact, he’s coming off of some of his best results of the year in the Ottawa doubleheader, where he made his first top five finish and won his first heat of the year.

“The thing about the double headers is the schedule—it gets very limited,” he explained. “If you can have a clean car, with as little damage as possible so you can have the car ready to run, that’s the biggest thing. It’s about avoiding bad situations so you don’t end up behind the 8-ball when it comes down to it. The key is to be patient and be decisive on when you should start executing the moves.”

NEGATIVES: The biggest downside of 2017 for Fernandez: the fact that he’s not yet behind the wheel of a Supercar. After putting in three solid years of work in a Lites car, earning a number of podiums and heat victories, it’s unfortunate from a fan perspective not to see him battling Mitchell deJong, Oliver Eriksson, and Cabot Bigham in one of the strongest Supercar rookie classes the series has ever seen. (At least for now—one can certainly hope for a mid-season promotion!)

On track, though, the most disappointing result had to come in Louisville, when Fernandez missed the main event. Contact in the semifinals relegated him to the last chance qualifier, and repairs weren’t finished in time to get him back to the line. The good news? Yacaman, his teammate for the weekend, carried the torch for the team by finishing third.

OUTLOOK: Fernandez is biding time until he finally makes the jump into a Supercar, something that longtime fans of the Colombian driver would love to see. Until then, he’s been his usual reliable self in the GRC Lites mix. Still, his time at the highest level is coming, and coming fast. We shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to see him in one of the faster cars.

Rd 4: Circuit of the Americas

Rd 5: Circuit of the Americas

Gustavo YacamanGustavo Yacaman

colombian race car driver at Red Bull Global Rallycross

Full name: Gustavo Yacaman

Nationality: Colombian

Resides: Miami, FL.

Birthdate: February 25, 1991

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.gustavoyacaman.com

Yacamán Aristizabal is a Colombian racing driver from Santiago de Cali. Yacamán began his career in open-wheel racing, but switched to sports car endurance racing in 2012. He raced in the US until he joined G-Drive Racing in 2015, where he drove a Ligier in the WEC Championship and finished that season 3rd in the LMP2 class. In 2016 Yacamán switched to a sprint format, driving for BMW Team Teo Martín in the International GT Open series. He finished runner-up for the 2016 Championship.

For 2009, he returned to the U.S. to race in the Firestone Indy Lights Series with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. He finished 12th in points with a best finish of 4th at the Milwaukee Mile. He returned to the series in 2010 with the rookie team Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Yacamán improved to 10th in points and captured his first podium finish with a 3rd place at Toronto. He returned to the series in 2011 for a third season, this time with Team Moore Racing. He captured his first win late in the season at Baltimore and finished fourth in points. Yacamán achieved his first Indy Lights pole position at the 2012 Firestone Freedom 100. He finished the season third in points with two wins (at Detroit and Toronto) and three runner-up finishes.

source: wikipedia.com

Results

2017 Third position – Red Bull Global Rallycross Louisville

2016 BMW M6 GT3 – BMW Team Teo Martin

2015 Ligier JS P2 – G-Drive Racing

2016 Oreca Chevy – Starworks Motorsport

2014 Morgan – NIssan – Ligier – OAK Racing

2013 DP 6 – Michael Shank Racing

2012 DP 6 Michael Shank Racing – Daytona 24 hours

2012 Dallara 2 – Team Moore Racing

2012 Dallara 2 – Team Moore Racing

2011 Dallara 10 – Wayne Taylor Racing

2009 Dallara 44 – Sam Schmidt

2008 D308 14 – Tecauto

2008 D306 44 – Novatec Racing

2006 Formula BMW – Master Junior Formula

Matthew HallidayMatthew Halliday

New Zealand race car driver

Full name: Matthew Halliday

Nationality: New Zealand

Resides: Auckland, NZ

Birthdate: July 14, 1979

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.matthaliday.com

Matt Halliday is a New Zealand born international racing driver who has been contesting a variety of racing categories worldwide. Having risen through the ranks of junior formulae such as karting and Formula Ford he quickly progressed to international racing championships including Formula Holden in Australia, Indy Lights in the USA and Formula Renault V6 in Europe and Asia.The highest profile categories he has raced in include Australian V8 Supercars endurance races, USA Champcars, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport and more recently the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup contested in Europe and the Middle East. When his commitments allow, Matt also returns to New Zealand to contest selected Porsche GT3 events.

source: wikipedia.com

Results

2010 – Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Europe and Middle East

2009/10 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2009 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Mini-Endurance

2008– V8 Supercars – Australia

2008– New Zealand Grand Prix – Toyota Racing Series

2007/08 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2007– V8 Supercars – Australia

2007– USA Champ Car World Series

2007 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2006/07– A1GP Series World Cup Of Motorsport

2006– V8 Supercars – Australia

2006 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2006–Formula Renault V6 Asia Championship

2005/06– A1GP Series World Cup Of Motorsport

2005– V8 Supercars – Australia

2005 – Champcar World Series – USA

2005 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Championship

2004– V8 Supercars – Australia

2004 – Australia and NZ – Porsche GT3 and Carrera Cup

2004 – Porsche Trans Tasman GT3 Challenge – NZ

2003 –Formula V6 Euroseries – Europe and UK

Dayton Indy Lights Series 2001 – USA

2nd & 3rd – New Zealand Grand Prix

3rd – Formula Holden Championship

Formula Holden 1999 – 2000 – Australia and NZ

4th – National Championship (10 Top 3 finishes)

3rd – NZ FFI600 Festival

Formula Ford 1998 – NZ

National Sprint Champion in1997.

National Senior Champion in 1996

National Junior Light Champion in 1994

1988 – 1997 Karting – NZ

Burt JennerBurt Jenner

X Games Athlete

Full name: Burt Jenner

Nationality: American

Resides: Malibu, CA

Birthdate: September 6, 1978

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.jennerracing.com

Joining AF Racing alongside Alejandro Fernandez, Jenner makes his first GRC Lites start in Memphis nearly four years removed from his first test session in the car. The former Octane Academy winner has made a name for himself in off-road racing and sports cars, and combines those backgrounds in his first attempt at rallycross. The California native is just one in a long line of drivers to make his debut for the team, many of whom have gone on to contend for wins.

Rd 4: Circuit of the Americas

Rd 5: Circuit of the Americas

Gustavo YacamanGustavo Yacaman

colombian race car driver at Red Bull Global Rallycross

Full name: Gustavo Yacaman

Nationality: Colombian

Resides: Miami, FL.

Birthdate: February 25, 1991

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.gustavoyacaman.com

Yacamán Aristizabal is a Colombian racing driver from Santiago de Cali. Yacamán began his career in open-wheel racing, but switched to sports car endurance racing in 2012. He raced in the US until he joined G-Drive Racing in 2015, where he drove a Ligier in the WEC Championship and finished that season 3rd in the LMP2 class. In 2016 Yacamán switched to a sprint format, driving for BMW Team Teo Martín in the International GT Open series. He finished runner-up for the 2016 Championship.

For 2009, he returned to the U.S. to race in the Firestone Indy Lights Series with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. He finished 12th in points with a best finish of 4th at the Milwaukee Mile. He returned to the series in 2010 with the rookie team Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing. Yacamán improved to 10th in points and captured his first podium finish with a 3rd place at Toronto. He returned to the series in 2011 for a third season, this time with Team Moore Racing. He captured his first win late in the season at Baltimore and finished fourth in points. Yacamán achieved his first Indy Lights pole position at the 2012 Firestone Freedom 100. He finished the season third in points with two wins (at Detroit and Toronto) and three runner-up finishes.

source: wikipedia.com

Results

2017 Third position – Red Bull Global Rallycross Louisville

2016 BMW M6 GT3 – BMW Team Teo Martin

2015 Ligier JS P2 – G-Drive Racing

2016 Oreca Chevy – Starworks Motorsport

2014 Morgan – NIssan – Ligier – OAK Racing

2013 DP 6 – Michael Shank Racing

2012 DP 6 Michael Shank Racing – Daytona 24 hours

2012 Dallara 2 – Team Moore Racing

2012 Dallara 2 – Team Moore Racing

2011 Dallara 10 – Wayne Taylor Racing

2009 Dallara 44 – Sam Schmidt

2008 D308 14 – Tecauto

2008 D306 44 – Novatec Racing

2006 Formula BMW – Master Junior Formula

Matthew HallidayMatthew Halliday

New Zealand race car driver

Full name: Matthew Halliday

Nationality: New Zealand

Resides: Auckland, NZ

Birthdate: July 14, 1979

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.matthaliday.com

Matt Halliday is a New Zealand born international racing driver who has been contesting a variety of racing categories worldwide. Having risen through the ranks of junior formulae such as karting and Formula Ford he quickly progressed to international racing championships including Formula Holden in Australia, Indy Lights in the USA and Formula Renault V6 in Europe and Asia.The highest profile categories he has raced in include Australian V8 Supercars endurance races, USA Champcars, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport and more recently the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup contested in Europe and the Middle East. When his commitments allow, Matt also returns to New Zealand to contest selected Porsche GT3 events.

source: wikipedia.com

Results

2010 – Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Europe and Middle East

2009/10 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2009 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Mini-Endurance

2008– V8 Supercars – Australia

2008– New Zealand Grand Prix – Toyota Racing Series

2007/08 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2007– V8 Supercars – Australia

2007– USA Champ Car World Series

2007 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2006/07– A1GP Series World Cup Of Motorsport

2006– V8 Supercars – Australia

2006 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup

2006–Formula Renault V6 Asia Championship

2005/06– A1GP Series World Cup Of Motorsport

2005– V8 Supercars – Australia

2005 – Champcar World Series – USA

2005 – New Zealand Porsche GT3 Championship

2004– V8 Supercars – Australia

2004 – Australia and NZ – Porsche GT3 and Carrera Cup

2004 – Porsche Trans Tasman GT3 Challenge – NZ

2003 –Formula V6 Euroseries – Europe and UK

Dayton Indy Lights Series 2001 – USA

2nd & 3rd – New Zealand Grand Prix

3rd – Formula Holden Championship

Formula Holden 1999 – 2000 – Australia and NZ

4th – National Championship (10 Top 3 finishes)

3rd – NZ FFI600 Festival

Formula Ford 1998 – NZ

National Sprint Champion in1997.

National Senior Champion in 1996

National Junior Light Champion in 1994

1988 – 1997 Karting – NZ

Burt JennerBurt Jenner

X Games Athlete

Full name: Burt Jenner

Nationality: American

Resides: Malibu, CA

Birthdate: September 6, 1978

Supercar Lites Class Driver

www.jennerracing.com

Joining AF Racing alongside Alejandro Fernandez, Jenner makes his first GRC Lites start in Memphis nearly four years removed from his first test session in the car. The former Octane Academy winner has made a name for himself in off-road racing and sports cars, and combines those backgrounds in his first attempt at rallycross. The California native is just one in a long line of drivers to make his debut for the team, many of whom have gone on to contend for wins.